Heading them off at the Pass. Ian Johnstone selected to put the fires out over hounding Damian Green

In a statement this morning, the Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, getting his defence in early , Sir Paul Stephenson, said:

"I am properly concerned about the issues being raised within the continuing debate surrounding the ongoing investigation into the leaking of Government information. "

"I have therefore appointed Ian Johnston, Chairman of ACPO Crime Committee and Chief Constable of the British Transport Police, to conduct an urgent review of our decisions, actions and handling of the investigation to date and to provide me with an interim report within 7 days and a final report within two weeks. "

"In the meantime the investigation team will be meeting with the CPS to review progress and consider next steps."

In 1998 Mr Johnston (now 63) was chosen by the Met to make its formal apology in court to the Lawrence family, for the handling of the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Guradian

The Times reported December 18th 2007 that Ian Johnston was / is picking up a six-figure salary and a full pension after retiring six years ago then returning to work as a chief constable.

Ian Johnston, who leads the British Transport Police (BTP) and is a national police spokesman on organised crime, is the highest-paid officer in the country with an estimated pay-and-pension package of £260,000 a year.

According to the force’s 2006-07 accounts, Mr Johnston, 62, is paid £190,000-£195,000 by the British Transport Police. He became chief constable of the force in May 2001, the year that he retired as an assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard. The Times has estimated that his annual pension is in excess of £70,000 – two thirds of the salary for an assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard when he stepped down.

During last year Mr Johnston claimed expenses of £6,964.40 – considerably higher than the £5,000 per annum that led to an audit of a senior Scotland Yard officer’s expense claims last month.

The British Transport Police is unlike most Police forces, and does not report to the Home Office.
His force, which is responsible for policing the railway network across Britain, falls under the control of the Department for Transport and has a separate pension scheme.

Mr Johnston is also a lead spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers. He represents the police on issues including forensic science, organised crime, drugs, firearms, fraud and violent crime.

We cannot report which Lodge he is with.

UPDATE : BB4 Radio News confirmed this at 10.00 am

UPDATE Independent 10.30

In a statement, kebab guzzler Jacquie Smith (still, amazingly Home Secretary) is reported issuing a statement (not available on Home Office website)

"I welcome Sir Paul's appointment of Chief Constable Ian Johnston to conduct a review of the Metropolitan Police Service's decisions, actions and handling to date of the ongoing investigation into the leaking of Government information. "

"In view of the gravity and sensitivity of this ongoing investigation, I spoke to Sir Paul yesterday to seek his assurance that the investigation was being pursued diligently, sensitively and in a proportionate manner. Sir Paul informed me of his intention to conduct a review of the handling of the case, which I welcomed. "

"I reiterated my support for the police's operational independence from political interference. "

"No-one should seek to prejudice a police investigation in any way. These are very serious matters, and the police should be free to pursue their investigations without fear or favour."

Boris Johnson also welcomed Mr Johnston's appointment: "I welcome Sir Paul Stephenson's sensible appointment of Ian Johnston to lead a thorough review of the handling of the investigation and arrest of Damien Green MP.

"It is right that someone independent (?!) should look closely at how the police conducted this investigation and whether the actions and decisions they took were proportionate and necessary and I am pleased at the common sense approach this represents."

L'affair Dreyfus , Gorgeous George doesn't say J'accuse which is French and so is agent provocateurs

Stephiblog reprints a letter (not French) from George Galloway to Jacqui Smith the kebab fetishist Home Secretary identifying an Inspector Chris Dreyfus as an agent provocateur at the anti Bush Rally described by Yasmin Whittaker-Khan in the Mail on Sunday 22nd June . "Was 'friend' who yelled abuse at police on anti-war demo a stooge or a thug, asks writer"

"This man" , says George, showing his age by the changing fashions of street argot,"This man, to my direct knowledge, committed four criminal offences during the 30 minutes or so he stood next to me. First, he repeatedly chanted the arcane, antiquated Americana, “Kill the pigs!” This is a clear incitement etc ., etc., which you can read for yourself.

He concludes ..."It now seems that what happened was a deliberate conspiracy to bring about scenes of violent disorder, seen around the world and for purposes on which we can only speculate." ... cause enough to lock him up and spend the next 28 days assembling a case of terrorism, utlising the whole range of Police still photographs and video taken by Police evidence gatherers.

...but then of course if he isn't a policeman ... the IPCC couldn't possibly investigate.

Not all men who have truncheons and helmets in their trousers are Policemen.

Curious how the national Press have remained silent on this one, or is the Lord Patel worldwide news gathering service falling down again.?
They were not previously silent when the Soaraway Sun printed news of this wonderful Plod revealing his Face book page and invitations for gay sex and for people to “bite, grope, lick or spank” him.

Remarkably (in the light of his activities in Whitehall on the anti-bush march) the Sun says this chappie , "Insp Dreyfus used to head the Transport Police’s Counter-Terrorism Proactive Unit.

He was in charge of 30 officers and was on the frontline at King’s Cross during the July 7 suicide attacks in 2005. " Stable paper the Times raking over the ordure also carried the story of his "gay" lifestyle at the time.

Glasgow Traffic Accident with Jeep - Absence of armed Police explained

For the many people who expressed surprise at the sequence of events at Glasgae last weekend ... this might help.

Associated Press report / Bloomberg / 8/7/07 8.16 BST

" .....Meanwhile, authorities acknowledged no armed police were on duty at Glasgow airport June 30 when two men crashed a Jeep Cherokee laden with gas cylinders and gasoline into the main terminal.

"Armed officers are only deployed to the airport when the national threat level requires it," a Strathclyde police spokesman said on condition of anonymity because department policy barred him from speaking for attribution.

Britain's terrorism threat level was "severe" at the time of the attack - the second-highest level, which means an attack is highly likely. It remains at that level.

It is up to individual police forces to decide how to deal with the threat level, a Home Office spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity in line with department policy.

Most police throughout Britain do not carry firearms out of the philosophy that arming police makes criminals feel justified in carrying weapons. However, all forces have specially trained firearms teams ready for rapid deployment.

The two men arrested following the Glasgow attack were overpowered by an unarmed officer, an off-duty policeman and members of the public. Armed police have been on duty at the airport since the attack.

All we need now is to be told that the Fire engines didn't have any foam .."because we don't usually get vehicle fires at the front door sir ...etc., "

Adm. Sir Alan West, the former navy chief the newly appointed security minister says the fight against "domestic militancy" (?) will take 15 years .... well that's no fucking surprise at this rate.

Fear naught though ..."John Smeaton, an airport worker, was praised in the Commons yesterday as the "one-man scourge of international terrorism".

Armed police patrol railway station to reassure travellers

By Jonny Muir Peterborough Evening Telegraph

In a move to " increase security and improve their visible presence " armed police patrolled Petrborough's railway station to "reassure the public" following the attempted car bombs in London and at Glasgow Airport last week.

Which is all very odd when you search in vain for any armed police at the site of the Glasgow Airport fireworks.